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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Pakistan court voids amnesty law | Pakistan court voids amnesty law |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Pakistan's Supreme Court has ruled that a decree protecting allies of President Asif Zardari against charges of corruption is illegal. | Pakistan's Supreme Court has ruled that a decree protecting allies of President Asif Zardari against charges of corruption is illegal. |
| The controversial law granting senior politicians amnesty was brought in by ex-President Pervez Musharraf. | The controversial law granting senior politicians amnesty was brought in by ex-President Pervez Musharraf. |
| The court's move opens the way to possible prosecution for Mr Zardari's political allies, although he is still protected by presidential immunity. | The court's move opens the way to possible prosecution for Mr Zardari's political allies, although he is still protected by presidential immunity. |
| Mr Zardari faces several pending court cases against him in Pakistan. | Mr Zardari faces several pending court cases against him in Pakistan. |
| Before taking office, he spent years in jail after being convicted on corruption charges he says were politically motivated. | Before taking office, he spent years in jail after being convicted on corruption charges he says were politically motivated. |
| Pressure | Pressure |
| Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry read out the ruling of the 17-judge bench, declaring the amnesty "void" and unconstitutional. | |
| In its ruling, the court said the law "seems to be against national interests thus it violates the provisions of the constitution". | In its ruling, the court said the law "seems to be against national interests thus it violates the provisions of the constitution". |
| The law was introduced by Mr Musharraf in order to allow Mr Zardari's late wife, Benazir Bhutto, to return to the country and stand for office, with the aim of a possible power-sharing deal with Mr Musharraf. | The law was introduced by Mr Musharraf in order to allow Mr Zardari's late wife, Benazir Bhutto, to return to the country and stand for office, with the aim of a possible power-sharing deal with Mr Musharraf. |
| She returned to Pakistan from abroad after the so-called National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) was signed into law, but was assassinated soon after. | |
| The BBC's Aleem Maqbool, in Islamabad, says it has only recently been revealed that more than 8,000 politicians and officials benefited from the legislation. | The BBC's Aleem Maqbool, in Islamabad, says it has only recently been revealed that more than 8,000 politicians and officials benefited from the legislation. |
| The Supreme Court has called for all these cases to be re-opened, with hundreds of senior politicians and civilian bureaucrats now facing criminal and corruption charges. | |
| Our correspondent says that Mr Zardari and his government will come under pressure to step down on moral grounds, though there are no signs that this is likely to happen. | Our correspondent says that Mr Zardari and his government will come under pressure to step down on moral grounds, though there are no signs that this is likely to happen. |
| Pakistan is often ranked among the most corrupt countries in the world by anti-graft campaigners. | |
| According to a listing produced by global watchdog Transparency International, it came 40th out of 180 countries surveyed. |